Houston, TX — December 15, 2024, John Shines Sr. was injured in a car accident at about 1:45 a.m. on State Highway 35.

A preliminary accident report indicates a 2001 Ford Explorer overturned in a single-vehicle accident near East Orem Drive.

Driver John Milton Shines Sr., 55, was seriously injured in the crash, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Harris County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a single-vehicle crash results in serious injuries, as it did on State Highway 35, it’s all too easy for people to assume that the driver simply lost control or made a mistake. But those assumptions often prevent us from asking the deeper questions that matter most. In every serious crash, especially those involving older vehicles and no other apparent causes, there are three questions that must be addressed: Did the authorities thoroughly investigate the crash? Has anyone looked into whether a vehicle defect might have contributed? And has all the electronic data from the crash been collected?

With a vehicle like a 2001 Ford Explorer, now more than two decades old, the potential for mechanical failure is significant. That makes the second question, whether a vehicle defect contributed, especially important. Ford Explorers from that era have been the subject of various safety discussions over the years, including concerns about rollover risks, tire performance and suspension issues. If the crash involved a sudden loss of control, a tire blowout or a steering failure, those are not necessarily just unfortunate coincidences. But identifying such a problem requires preserving the vehicle and having it inspected by someone who knows how to look for defect-related causes. Too often, older vehicles are scrapped or repaired before anyone takes that step, meaning potentially crucial evidence is lost.

The first question, how thoroughly the crash was investigated, is equally pressing. When no other vehicles are involved, some departments may not conduct a full reconstruction or mechanical inspection, particularly in the absence of a fatality. But rollover crashes, especially at night, require careful scrutiny. Investigators should consider the condition of the roadway, lighting, weather and visibility. Did something in the environment contribute? Did the vehicle react the way it should have when the driver attempted to steer or brake? If those questions aren’t being asked, the investigation may fall short of giving a complete picture.

Then there’s the third piece of the puzzle: electronic data. Even older vehicles like a 2001 Explorer may have an engine control module capable of storing information about vehicle speed, braking and throttle position right before the crash. If that data is downloaded and preserved, it can help confirm whether the vehicle was behaving normally or if there were signs of malfunction. It can also provide objective insight into how the driver responded in the moments leading up to the rollover.

In the end, when someone is seriously injured in a crash like this, they deserve more than a vague explanation or a line in a police report. They deserve answers: answers grounded in evidence, not assumptions. That starts by asking the right questions, preserving the vehicle and its data and making sure the investigation is as thorough as it needs to be. Only then can the victim and his family truly understand what went wrong.